This weekend promises to be yet another action packed affair in the Premier League. There are some cracking fixtures for us to look forward to. Here’s all the games previewed along with all the best betting tips.
Everton v Liverpool
Jurgen Klopp will more than likely rest a host of his best players for this game, and he is perfectly correct to do so. Despite his sides superb demolition of runaway league leaders Man City on Wednesday night, the Reds still have to travel to the Etihad next Tuesday to finish the job.
Chelsea’s loss to Spurs also means Liverpool are all but qualified for the Champions League, so Klopp would be nuts to throw any of his star men into the heat of a Merseyside Derby.
Big Sam will predictably take all the credit if his side get a result, but if Everton lose, his players can expect to be called out in public afterwards.
Draw 13/5
Bournemouth v Crystal Palace
Bournemouth are 10th in the table and are on 37 points, so one more win would guarantee the Cherries another year of Premier League football, which is a massive achievement in itself for Eddie Howe and the South Coast club.
Palace were unlucky against Liverpool last weekend, and you’d have to think that if they had the Aston Villa version of Cristian Benteke and not the bumbling donkey that the 2018 version is, they would be a lot further up the table.
At a push I’d probably pick the home side in this one, but I’m not 100% sure, so I’m gonna back Jimmy Defoe to find the onion bag after his late equaliser against Watford last weekend.
Jermaine Defoe score anytime 13/8
Brighton v Huddersfield Town
This is a massive game for Brighton, win and they’ll be within touching distance of Premier League survival, lose and their last six games which includes fixtures against Spurs, Liverpool, Man City and Man United begin to look ominous.
Huddersfield are hitting a poor run of form at the worst possible time. David Wagner’s Terriers have only taken one point in their last four games and scored zero goals in that same period.
I’m going for a home win here, due to Huddersfield’s woeful away form more than anything else.
Brighton win 5/6
Leicester City v Newcastle
Jamie Vardy and company continue to impress under Claude Puel. The Foxes are currently in eight place and are probably the best team in the league outside the top six.
Rafa Benitez really has done a sensational job with Newcastle, and their 1-0 win over fellow strugglers Huddersfield last weekend, moves them up to 14th and a step closer to Premier League survival on 35 points.
I’m all about the home wins this week.
Leicester win 19/20
Stoke City v Tottenham
Paul Lambert continues to ban more of his overpaid and underperforming players from Stoke City’s training ground, but the Potters still can’t buy a win. After over a decade in the top flight its hard to make a realistic case for Stoke avoiding the drop this season, you had a good ride lads, but it looks like it’s time for you to go.
Spurs are riding high after their excellent win over Chelsea at Stamford Bridge, that has all but sealed their qualification for next seasons Champions League for the third year in a row, and as I said earlier it also secured their place as the new Kings of London.
With Harry Kane set to start after his lay off with ankle ligament damage, it’s hard to see anything but a comfortable win for Mauricio Pochettino’s men.
Harry Kane two or more goals 13/5
Watford v Burnley
Watford are a tough nut to crack at Vicarage Road, and like so many clubs outside of the top six, if you had of offered the Hornets the chance to simply stay in the Premier League at the start of the season they would have bitten your hand off.
It really is hard to believe that Sean Dyche’s Burnley are in seventh place in the Premier League in April. But that’s exactly where they are and deservedly so. The Clarets gravely voiced coach has done a truly remarkable job to guide a squad of players many predicted would be relegated to a comfortable top-half finish. After a bit of a mid-season dip, Burnley have been back to their best lately, winning their last three on the spot.
Honours even for me in this one.
Draw 11/5
West Brom v Swansea
West Brom finally got around to sacking Alan Pardew this week after a shocking run of just one win in 18 games. Sadly for the Baggies it’s too little to late and they are headed for one of the most embarrassing relegations in Premier League history.
Swansea on the other hand made a super decision to appoint Carlos Carvalhal at the end of December, and while the Welsh side are still only three points from the drop zone, their Portuguese coach has done a superb job and I fancy them to stay up easily.
Swansea win 12/5
Manchester City v Manchester United
What a massive game this is set to to be. Man City know that a victory against their local rivals will secure the Premier League title with a record six games remaining. It would of course be a major embarrassment for Man United to hand the title to their noisy neighbours by losing on Saturday evening.
On current league form you would back City all day, but due to the fact Guardiola has admitted that he will rest players ahead of his sides Champions League quarter-final against Liverpool next Tuesday, it might not be as cut and dry as it originally looked.
I can’t escape the feeling that Jose Mourinho just loves to be the man that ruins a party, so I’m backing him to put a pin in the Citizens title party – temporarily anyway.
Draw 3/1
Arsenal v Southampton
Arsenal are going on one of them nice little runs they quite often go on once the pressure is off, and they did play some blinding attacking football last night against CSKA Moscow. However, make no mistake, this is the same old Gunners with the same old frailties once you scratch beneath the surface.
Mark Hughes seems to have had little or no impact on Southampton’s inability to find the back of the net since he took over, but what he has managed to do is make them look even more suspect defensively. It looks very much like Hughsie will have the unenviable record of having managed two clubs who were both relegated at the end of the season come May.
Aubameyang first goal 3/1
Chelsea v West Ham
Chelsea look a shadow of the side that romped to the Premier League crown last season. The Blues chances of finishing in the top four have all but disappeared, and when you consider Antonio Conte’s dire record in the cup competitions I won’t be backing them to salvage their season with an FA Cup victory.
West Ham got over the drama of their recent crowd trouble, by beating fellow strugglers Southampton 3-0 at the London Stadium last weekend. It also looks like David Moyes is about to be handed a long term contract, which should be pretty delighted with considering the woeful jobs he has done at other clubs in recent years, and the more than decent playing squad he has at his disposal.
Chelsea win and both teams to score 2/1
